This organization makes no sense...

[brm7675]

From our AAA team last night;

AAA: Norfolk 6, Louisville 3
–2B Chris Valaika was 2-4 with a two-run homer, his second of the year. CF Brent Clevlen had two hits. Devin Mesoraco doubled.

–Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect inning, throwing eight pitches, of which six were strikes. Mike Leake followed up with 2 poor innings, giving up three runs on four hits, raising his ERA to 9.82.

Jeremy Horst took the loss with a rare less-than-stellar performance. He went 4.2 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks. He did strike out six. For what it’s worth, Horst has a future on the major league level.

So we are still using Chapman in a bullpen role? Really? We are going to continue to misuse this kid?

so you start chapman, have him pitch one inning then bring in your starter? Really how often does that occur in the major leagues/

So now we are throwing our bullpen lefties 4+ innings? Your lefty specialist is now your long guy? This organization just baffles me....

[ezluke]

From our AAA team last night;

AAA: Norfolk 6, Louisville 3
–2B Chris Valaika was 2-4 with a two-run homer, his second of the year. CF Brent Clevlen had two hits. Devin Mesoraco doubled.

–Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect inning, throwing eight pitches, of which six were strikes. Mike Leake followed up with 2 poor innings, giving up three runs on four hits, raising his ERA to 9.82.

Jeremy Horst took the loss with a rare less-than-stellar performance. He went 4.2 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks. He did strike out six. For what it’s worth, Horst has a future on the major league level.

So we are still using Chapman in a bullpen role? Really? We are going to continue to misuse this kid?

so you start chapman, have him pitch one inning then bring in your starter? Really how often does that occur in the major leagues/

So now we are throwing our bullpen lefties 4+ innings? Your lefty specialist is now your long guy? This organization just baffles me....

I agree that Chapman should be stretching out to be a starter, but what he did last night isn't uncommon. They started him, to gurantee he'd get his work. My guess is Leake blowing up after 2 innings kinda forced them to overuse Horst last night.

[Kevin1476]

I thought it was strange in the box score that Chapman just pitched one inning( the first one) and he was done. Did he get tightness again? I am sure he was not on an eight pitch count.

[brm7675]

I agree that Chapman should be stretching out to be a starter, but what he did last night isn't uncommon. They started him, to gurantee he'd get his work. My guess is Leake blowing up after 2 innings kinda forced them to overuse Horst last night.

But...if the Reds plan is to get chapman back to the show as a reliever this season, should they not be having in put into situations he would face up here? How often is he going to pitch inning 1 and that be it? I think part of his problem is pitching under presure and with men on base. NOW, I still think he should be a starter, but the Reds are bent on him being in the pen, then have him work in real pen condition in AAA.

[SidneySlicker]

From our AAA team last night;

AAA: Norfolk 6, Louisville 3
–2B Chris Valaika was 2-4 with a two-run homer, his second of the year. CF Brent Clevlen had two hits. Devin Mesoraco doubled.

–Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect inning, throwing eight pitches, of which six were strikes. Mike Leake followed up with 2 poor innings, giving up three runs on four hits, raising his ERA to 9.82.

Jeremy Horst took the loss with a rare less-than-stellar performance. He went 4.2 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks. He did strike out six. For what it’s worth, Horst has a future on the major league level.

So we are still using Chapman in a bullpen role? Really? We are going to continue to misuse this kid?

so you start chapman, have him pitch one inning then bring in your starter? Really how often does that occur in the major leagues/

So now we are throwing our bullpen lefties 4+ innings? Your lefty specialist is now your long guy? This organization just baffles me....

I think the reasoning for pitching Chapman in the first is to ensure he gets to face the top of the order (ie the other teams best hitters) What is their exact reasoning? I don't know, but it's very much commonplace for a rehabing pitcher to throw the first inning. Not saying a teams moves cannot be questioned, but the Reds are not the only one's that do or have done this.

[Hanover]

As stated, teams often pitch the first inning with a player on a rehab assignment. This allows the appearance to be controlled and the warmup period to be controlled.

Horst pitching 4 innings was because of the rain delay. It was an emergency type situation.

[Girevik]

I don't look to see Chapman starting any time this year. That would require an extended stay in Louisville, and I think the Reds consider him to valuable to the big league roster

[SidneySlicker]

I may be in the minority on this, but I just don't see Chapman as a starter. It's very rare for guys that throw on the verge of 100mph to ever have the pitch command or polish to be a starting pitcher. Aside from Chapman being stretched out he still needs a minimum of another pitch that he can throw for strikes. If you want him to start I think you are looking at a minimum of 1-2 years in the minors in my opinion before he's ever ready to become a major league starter and who's to say beyond that if that even works. Not saying it can't be done, but 1. be prepared to patient and 2.curb your expectations. Starting pitching is about pitching not throwing and right now Chapman is a thrower.

[brm7675]

I may be in the minority on this, but I just don't see Chapman as a starter. It's very rare for guys that throw on the verge of 100mph to ever have the pitch command or polish to be a starting pitcher. Aside from Chapman being stretched out he still needs a minimum of another pitch that he can throw for strikes. If you want him to start I think you are looking at a minimum of 1-2 years in the minors in my opinion before he's ever ready to become a major league starter and who's to say beyond that if that even works. Not saying it can't be done, but 1. be prepared to patient and 2.curb your expectations. Starting pitching is about pitching not throwing and right now Chapman is a thrower.

I think you are right, which is why the Reds should have left Chapman down in AAA last year as a starter and why he should have been there this year. We are wasting his talent.

[5TimeWSChamps]

As stated, teams often pitch the first inning with a player on a rehab assignment. This allows the appearance to be controlled and the warmup period to be controlled.

Horst pitching 4 innings was because of the rain delay. It was an emergency type situation.

Don't tell brm any logic, he's not happy unless he's *****ing. Just ignore him

[brm7675]

As stated, teams often pitch the first inning with a player on a rehab assignment. This allows the appearance to be controlled and the warmup period to be controlled.

Horst pitching 4 innings was because of the rain delay. It was an emergency type situation.

so basically you are prepping him in a way that doesn't match up with what he will be expected to do when back in cincy...yep good idea there...

[5TimeWSChamps]

He needs to pitch in order to get his command straightened out and his mechanics back on line. Doesn't matter if he's pitching in the 1st or 8th inning, he's gonna be able to do that

stop arguing just to argue, you are embarrassing yourself

[brm7675]

He needs to pitch in order to get his command straightened out and his mechanics back on line. Doesn't matter if he's pitching in the 1st or 8th inning, he's gonna be able to do that

stop arguing just to argue, you are embarrassing yourself

so you don't think the situation he is placed in matters at all? do you think it might be a bit easier to have a chance to pitch better when you have a chance to warm up, the game isn't on the line and there is no one on base? You make no sense, the problem with Chapman is in his head, not his body. If he is going to work out of the pen then he needs to learn "how" to warm up quickly and come into games fast and put out fires. I mean really...

[Vottomatic]

Last year I was praising this organization.

This year I'm questioning alot.

[5TimeWSChamps]

so you don't think the situation he is placed in matters at all? do you think it might be a bit easier to have a chance to pitch better when you have a chance to warm up, the game isn't on the line and there is no one on base? You make no sense, the problem with Chapman is in his head, not his body. If he is going to work out of the pen then he needs to learn "how" to warm up quickly and come into games fast and put out fires. I mean really...

I don't think he's gonna get fired up about facing AAA pitching in a bases loaded jam in a tie game in the 8th.

Sorry, but he will not care